PARASITE PREVENTION

There was a time when parasites like fleas, ticks, and roundworms were considered mostly a nuisance. Now, however, we know that parasites can cause serious illness and even death in pets and humans. Ticks can transmit infections like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease, potentially fatal human illnesses transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. In fact, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri account for 60% of RMSF reports in the United States. Fleas can transmit tapeworms and Bartonella – the bacteria that causes “cat-scratch fever” in humans. Another type of parasite, called a heartworm, is transmitted to pets by mosquitoes. Heartworms live in your pet’s lungs and heart, causing damage to these organs, and sometimes even death. Intestinal parasites, like roundworms and hookworms, also threaten pets and are even transmissible to humans.

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You may not always be able to tell if your pet has parasites. Fleas can hide under your pet’s fur, and some ticks are very tiny (only the size of a pinhead), so they are very difficult to find. Intestinal parasites like roundworms can cause diarrhea and other problems, but many infected pets don’t show any signs of illness at all.

Veterinary examinations and parasite testing are important ways to protect your pet’s health. Let the knowledgeable staff at Mt. Pleasant Animal Hospital provide you with a comprehensive parasite control program. We can can examine your pet for evidence of fleas, ticks, or other parasites. We can recommend a schedule for parasite testing, discuss what signs of parasites you can look for at home, review ways to control parasites in and around your home, discuss treatment options if your pet has parasites, and recommend ways to control and prevent parasites. Our expert staff can recommend medications to help control fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites. Preventing parasites in your pets also helps protect children and other family members, so let’s work together to protect your pets and family.

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FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE HEARTWORM, FLEA & TICK PRODUCTS THAT WE SELL: